Well, let us hear once again this letter of Philemon. I do hope you're finding it profitable to have this short letter read numerous times. Maybe each time you hear it, you remember something. Maybe as I'm reading it publicly, you say, well, I didn't notice that before. Now I do. May the Lord minister the truth of this letter to your heart, even in its public reading. Philemon. Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy, our brother, and to Philemon, our dearly beloved and fellow laborer, and to our beloved Apphia and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house. Praise to you and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, curing of thy love and faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus and toward all saints. that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to adjoin thee, that which is proper or right, yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such as one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. I beseech thee for my son Anesimus, which I have begotten in my bonds, which in time past was to thee unprofitable, and now profitable to thee and to me. Whom I have sent again, thou therefore receive him that is mine own bowels, whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel. But without thy mind would I do nothing, that thy benefit should not be, as it were, of necessity, but willingly. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou should receive him for ever, not now as a servant, but above a servant a brother, beloved, especially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord. If thou canst be therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or owed thee aught, put that on mine account. I, Paul, have written it with mine own hand. I will repay it, albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord, refresh my bowels in the Lord. Having confidence in thy obedience, I run unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. But withal, prepare me also a lodging, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow laborers, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. You may be seated. As I begin to preach this afternoon, I repeat something that I mentioned in a previous message that I preached on as I direct your attention again to this letter I just read, Paul's infallibly inspired letter to Philemon. And I repeat it and I mention it again because I think it fits so well with the verses that we have reached in this, the shortest of letters written by Paul, but filled with so much truth, filled with so much gospel truth and application for all believers in every century and in every situation. Now the thing I want to repeat is Although the Bible contains all the information that a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ needs, the Bible contains all that you need, believer, to know how to live to the glory of the God who has redeemed you and saved you from your sin. Just one verse from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament that show this. Psalm 119, verse 9. Wherewith also a young man cleanse his way, by taking heed thereto according to thy word. You want to know how to live a pure life in the sight of God? Search the Scriptures. And then 2 Timothy 3, 16 and 17, those well-known verses. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, or God breathed, and is useful or profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. If you want to know what a good work is, study the Scriptures. But although the Bible is both authoritative, meaning you are to obey what it says over what corrupt and wicked men say, you are to be willing to suffer for righteousness' sake, And it is sufficient, meaning that all you need to live a life pleasing to your Lord and Savior, believers, either expressly stated or may be determined by good and necessary consequence from what is written in the Bible, to quote from a confession. These things do not mean that the Bible reveals all things that it can honestly be said would be interesting to have a record of. For who delivered this letter? written by Paul to Philemon. Well, Philemon's fugitive slave Onesimus did. But it's not until verse 10 in this letter of 25 verses that Philemon finds out that it is because of Onesimus that Paul is written to him. But everything up to verse 10 is preparing him For the request of verse 10, I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds. But what were Philemon's first thoughts when he heard Onesimus is back? The Scriptures don't tell us. The Scriptures are silent. What were his first words to Onesimus? Because he obviously had to come into Onesimus' presence. The Scriptures are silent. What is his reaction when Anesimus tells him he is returned because he has a letter for him from Paul? Again, the Scriptures are silent. And it's not until verse 10, as I said, of the short letter that Philemon finds out why Paul has written him. What was his reaction when he reads verse 10 for the first time? The Scriptures again are silent. But although the scriptures are silent, I do not think it is hard to imagine that not only because of what Paul has already written, but also by the way he writes verse 10 and what follows after it, that whatever Philemon's initial reaction was to the return of the fugitive slave Onesimus, that Onesimus was granted his freedom by Philemon. For even though we do not know what Philemon's first reactions were, try and put yourself in his situation leading up to and including verse 10. Was this the first he had heard that Paul was in prison? Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ? How difficult it must be to be a prisoner. Why was Paul a prisoner? Because he was suffering for righteousness sake. The Apostle Paul in prison, in chains, how horrible! And yet, even as he is in prison, he's written to me! Why? Because you have a brother in the Lord in chains, Philemon. Chains he broke to escape from you, but now I have returned him to you so that you can free him and deliver him not only from slavery, but from the danger he is in should someone find out that he is a fugitive slave and report him to the Roman authorities. But what does Philemon read next? I am dearly beloved of Paul and Timothy. They see me as a fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ. Yet they have done so much more for me. Yes, I've opened my home, as he writes, for the church that meets in my home. Yes, I've opened my home to the church to meet it in Colossae, as Paul obviously knows, because this is a letter that I'm going to have to share or read to my brothers and sisters in Christ as well. What a blessing it will be for me to read to them that Paul and Timothy, the Apostle, Paul greets me so affectionately and sees me as a fellow laborer with them. But why is Anesimus the one who delivered this letter to me? I must continue to read what Paul has written to me. And what does he read next? He reads and he finds out that Paul is praying for him. We're separated by many miles. Paul's in prison. Paul's in chains. And yet he takes the time to write to me and tell me that he's praying for me. He wants me to know the grace and peace of God. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. But not only that, he is able to say that he's thankful to God for me. Not only a beloved brother, not only a fellow laborer, He's telling me that He's able to thank God for me and He's praying for me. And it's not some sporadic, random event. Verse 4, I thank my God, making mention of Thee always in my prayers. Why is He able to thank me? Verse 5, hearing of Thy love and faith which Thou hast toward the Lord Jesus and toward all saints. Yes, I do love all the saints. It is a joy and blessing for me to be able to open my home so that they as well as I can have a place to fellowship and worship the Lord together. But why did Anesimus bring this letter? He still hasn't found out. I have to keep reading. I must keep reading it. Verse 6, that the communication of my faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Paul is asking the Lord that my faith may become more effectual. Well, what's he referring to? Since he's already indicated that he's thankful to the Lord for what I've already done for the body of Christ, and right after indicating that he has asked God for this, he acknowledges that what I've already done for believers is a source of joy and consolation for him and those with him. Verse 7, For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. Well, he's asking me. He's asking the Lord that my faith might become more effectual. He acknowledges that I've already refreshed the hearts of the saints. What is this that he wants me to become more effectual in? But why was Anesimus, my fugitive slave, the one to bring me such an encouraging letter from Paul, in which Paul is expressing these things about me? Why doesn't he just let me know what he wants me to do? After all, he's an apostle. And yet he has not even mentioned the fact that he is one in this letter up to this point. And as Philemon will find out, he makes no reference at all to it in this letter. How interesting. Paul is aware of the fact that he could command me in Christ. I hopefully would be willing to obey, but that is not the basis of his request for me. Verse 8 in the first part of verse 9. Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee. I still don't know what Paul wants me to do. But whatever it is that Paul is requesting of me, that he is yet to say what it is, I am to do it out of my love, for love's sake, and out of my love for him, my elder imprisoned brother, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. Paul wants me to do something to display my love for him. Now, obviously, whatever it is that Paul wants me to do is something that I am capable of doing, because Paul would not have written to me to do something that I'm not capable of doing. But what is it? What could it be? After all, he has written how can I not do what he wants? After all that he has written, how can I not to do whatever it is that he wants me to do out of my love for this man who has written these things about me? He's thankful to God for me. He's praying for me. But what is it? I must keep reading. But as he's reading, why wasn't it my fugitive slave Anesimus? Why was he the one to deliver this? wonderful letter to me from Paul. What does he have to do with Paul? The last time I saw him, he was my slave, and then he ran away. What does he have to do with Paul? I beseech thee for my son Anesimus whom I have forgotten in my bonds. Here's the request. After nine verses of laying on all the things we've just briefly summarized again, here's the request. Now Philemon knows what it is that Paul wants him to do. I beseech thee for my son Anesimus whom I have forgotten in my bonds. Oh dear people who have had a camera. Who have had a camera. recording the reaction of Philemon from the moment he heard Onesimus was back to having him tell him that he had a letter from Paul and up to this point in time in the letter at that moment the first time he read verse 10 to have a camera just to capture that reaction see cameras have caught one of a kind moments in all kinds of sporting events oh to have A record of Philemon's reaction to verse 10 after reading all that he has read leading up to it. Everything up to verse 10 and everything subsequent to verse 10 is written for one reason. To enable Philemon to willingly see that the only thing that he can do to display his love for Paul and his continuing love for all saints is to do what he requests of him because Onesimus is no longer just his fugitive slave, but he is his brother in Christ. And notice, Paul is still not bringing out, if I can use this way of expressing it, Paul is still not bringing out the big guns of apostolic authority and command. He has already indicated back in verse 8 that he might have been bold in commanding him to do what was right, but he does not do so. And he does not do so here. Paul is beseeching Philemon. He is exhorting Philemon to do what is right, but he's not commanding him. Now, some might say, would it not have been so much easier for Paul to simply have commanded Philemon to do what was right? You've got a slave, Philemon, let him go. But that would have undermined all the truth. That would have undermined all the truth that he has already laid down and what he has yet to lay down. That would have undermined the truth of that fundamental reality of the gospel that in Christ there is neither slave nor free. Yes, there are times when Paul will clearly command what is right, such as abstain from fleshly lust, that wars against your soul, and numerous other imperatives, throughout his letter. But Paul was infallibly guided by the Holy Spirit, and it is the desire of the Holy Spirit that the glorious equality of believers, despite differing social positions, be not just seen by way of commandment. but seen as the appropriate application of the truth of the saving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers may have different social positions, but before the Lord, all believers owe their position in Christ to the free and sovereign mercy and grace of God. Philemon's position socially, obviously well off, was not the reason the Lord saved him. And the fact that Anesimus was a runaway fugitive slave did not prevent the Lord reaching down and having mercy upon him, even as he had it on Philemon. For all are one in Christ Jesus, because regardless of your social position, believer, you know that you as well as everyone of your blood-bought brothers and sisters in Christ has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Dear people, the biblical gospel is the great leveler. It doesn't matter who you're looking at. The most powerful man in the world, or the most powerless man in the world, you know that there's one thing they need. The saving gospel of Christ. The biblical gospel is the great leveler, who is the richest man that the Lord has saved. I don't know. But in glory, he will not be saying, I am in glory because of my riches. He will be praising God for his amazing mercy and grace towards him. Who is the poorest man that the Lord has saved? I don't know. But in glory, he will not be saying that he was saved because the Lord took pity on him because of his social position. No, he will be praising the Lord for his mercy and grace in saving him out of his spiritual rebellion and depravity even while he was poor. Who is the most powerful man in human history that God has saved? I don't know. But in glory he will not be saying that it was because of my position in this world that the Lord saved him. Oh, he will be praising the Lord for the truth that the Scriptures record that not many mighty are saved. Oh, how the mighty who are saved thank the Lord for that statement. Notice that not many mighty are saved. Not many. It does not say not any are saved. Oh, it's a dangerous thing to be mighty, but the Lord can still reach down. Not many mighty are saved, but it doesn't say not any are saved, because the gospel is for the mighty and for the lowly. Who is the most insignificant of men that the Lord has saved? I don't know, but he will not be saying that he was saved because of his low position in this world. He would praise the Lord that he had grace and mercy on him. You see, Paul could beseech Philemon, Ephraim, and Esau in this life because both of them were freed by the free and sovereign mercy and grace of God so that they could praise Him for His grace and mercy towards them both in time and throughout eternity. It's that verse in that well-known hymn, when we've been there, When we've been there 10,000 years bright shining as the sun, we'll have no less days to sing God's praise than when we first begun together on this earth. Everything that Paul has written up to revealing his request for Philemon was to help Philemon willingly embrace what he asks him for in this verse. He is asking him to free his son. Now, how is Onesimus Paul's son? Well, who is Onesimus' spiritual father? Paul is, whom I have begotten in my bonds. The Lord used Paul as the instrument of his saving gospel. Now here is another question that the scriptures do not answer that would be interesting to know the details of. But what were the providential circumstances that resulted in Paul coming in contact with Onesimus? so that he could hear the gospel through Paul and have his fugitive heart opened by the Holy Spirit so that he could believe the gospel to the saving of his soul. What were the circumstances? Because, think of it, he's a fugitive slave and Paul says here that he was a prisoner in chains. You would think that the last place that Anesimus would want to be is anywhere near Roman authorities. But it was while Paul was a prisoner of the Roman beast. whom I have begotten in my bonds, whom I have begotten in my chains. Onesimus came into contact with Paul while he was in chains. But notice, Paul did not stop holding forth the truth of the gospel while he was in chains. I have begotten him in my bonds. If he had, Onesimus would not have heard the gospel. Oh, what would you and I do if we were unjustly arrested? and unjustly imprisoned. Oh, if that happened to me, I'd go into a week-long depression. I wouldn't want to see anybody. I wouldn't want to talk to anybody. I wouldn't want to say anything to them. And yet here is Paul. He's been unjustly arrested and unjustly imprisoned, and yet he's still holding forth the gospel. He's still holding it forth. Would we hold forth the truth of the Gospel as we had opportunity, as Paul obviously did? Remember, Paul knew that he would not be a prisoner of Rome unless the Lord had decreed it, therefore he uses it for the proclamation of the Gospel. Because what does he write to the Philippians? In Philippians 1.13, so that my bonds, or so that my chains in Christ are manifest in all the palace and in all other places. Through Caesar's household, they knew that Paul was in prison because he was a Christian. How evangelistic would we be if we were unjustly imprisoned? Paul continued to hold forth the Gospel even while he was in chains. And while he was in chains, God used this to free Onesimus spiritually. Because even though Paul was physically restrained, he knew there was something that could never be shackled. He knew there was something that could never be changed. The power of the Holy Spirit to work through the gospel. He preached and believed to save those for whom Christ died. John 3.8, The wind blows where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it comes and whither it goes. So is everyone that is born of the Spirit. What good can come out of Paul being in prison? Onesimus is saved. Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of God, so he continued to hold it forth, even while in chains, because he knew that God can save whomever he chooses to save through it. Oh, to have seen the reaction of Philemon to the return of Onesimus, and to learn that he has become a brother in Christ. Now, even though I still have a number of verses to lay before you in this letter, where Paul continues to show Philemon that the only response of love to him and Anesim is to set him free, I ask you, dear people, what is one of the greatest joys of a true believer in this life? What is one of the greatest joys of a true believer in this life? to hear that someone they know has come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Philemon knew Onesimus. Yes, he had fled from him. Yes, he quite possibly had stolen from him and made things difficult for Philemon by running away. But if you were to hear that someone you knew had been converted, I ask you, would it not bring joy to your hearts? It brought joy to Paul's heart. It brings joy to the unfallen angels. I do not think it is hard to imagine the fact that Anesimus had come to saving faith, brought joy to the heart of Philemon, despite all the problems he had caused him. For I ask you, brethren, think of someone you know who is unsafe, some family member, some friend. Maybe they've ridiculed you. Maybe they have rejected you. Maybe they have hurt you in some way. But I ask you this, if they were to come to you and give evidence of credible profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, I ask you, would you not be like those recorded in Luke 15, including the angels in heaven? Luke 15, verses 1-7, Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners, for to hear him in the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners and eats with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which was lost, until he find it? And when he had found it, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety in nine just persons which need no repentance." My husband, my wife, my son, my daughter, my father, my mother, my uncle, my aunt, my co-worker has confessed Christ! Would you not be like the father at the return of his prodigal son? Luke 15, 17-24, when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have breaded up in despair, and I perish with hunger. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto them, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion on him, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said to him, Father, against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the Father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet, and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry. For this my son was dead, and is alive again, and he was lost, and is found, and they began to be merry." I ask you, can you not envision Onesimus, a one who's been written of here, saying he loves all saints, he understands the saving gospel of Christ, he sees Onesimus at his door, he doesn't know why he's there, he reads this letter, and I note, Onesimus has come to faith in Christ! Praise be to God! It's not hard for me to imagine that once Onesimus knew, or excuse me, once Philemon knew, what this letter was about from Paul that he rejoiced. And it's not hard for me to imagine that once Onesimus knew that Philemon had read the letter, that he sought out Philemon's forgiveness. Philemon, I should never have run away. I should never have taken you through the things that I took you through. Forgive me. I know this is Maybe it's just a little bit of imagination, but can you not see Philemon embracing Onesimus and Onesimus embracing Philemon? They're brothers in Christ. They've been forgiven by the same God. They're new creatures in the Lord Jesus Christ. And Philemon reads this and says, Oh, what a blessing. And in light of all that Paul has written to and about Philemon and all he has yet to write since Philemon is a true believer in Christ, I can't imagine him doing anything but rejoicing in the truth that Onesimus has been saved and now is his brother in Christ who he willingly released from bondage. Because Onesimus and Philemon were no longer slave and slave owner, they were brothers in Christ. And how could Philemon testify to this new relationship? By setting him free. Because what does John write in 1 John 5 verse 1? Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God, and everyone that loves him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him. Onesimus has been begotten of the Lord! Then I have to love him, and I can't love him if I'm keeping him a slave. My dear people, there is no greater force in this world than the regenerating power of the gospel of God. It turns enemies into friends. It turns employers and employees into brothers in Christ. But the truth of Adonisimus' changed life and changed relationship with Philemon and the circumstances of his conversion should also be a source of hope and encouragement to anyone who has unsaved loved ones who either have rejected your witness to them or are no longer interested in communicating with you or listening to you so with weeping you accept the truth that you're not to cast your pearls before pigs because you believe it applies to your loved one, even as you continue to pray for them. But think of the situation with Philemon and Onesimus. Onesimus was a fugitive slave. Whatever the reasons were for his leaving Philemon's home, he left. He left as an unbeliever. Now it's not hard to imagine that Paul had heard about Philemon's love for all saints from Onesimus himself. But he still fled. He left Philemon as a non-believer, but now he has returned what? As a believer. Who knows believer? You have an unsaved loved one. You have an unsaved family member. You have an unsaved friend. They've rejected your witness. They no longer want to listen to you. They're hundreds of miles away, like Onesimus was from Philemon, or even share the same roof with you. But the Lord can still bring them into contact with the saving gospel of Christ through someone else. Who knows what gospel seed Philemon might have planted in the soul of Onesimus. But the Lord was pleased to give the increase through the preaching of Paul, even while he was chained. One plants another waters, but God gives the increase. Yeah, you may have laid that seed in their soil, but they're rejecting your witness. They say, don't talk to me about the Gospel. I've heard enough about the Gospel from you. And so, you don't want to cast your pearls before pigs, and with weeping you say, Lord, I can't open my mouth. It just creates dissension, and he gets annoyed. She gets frustrated. She gets angry. Oh Lord, save them. And so they leave. Leave in unbelief. There's still the Sovereign God, still the Sovereign God. Have you ever heard of Augustine? He had a mother named Monica. Augustine lived a very profligate life, a very wicked life, and he broke his mother's heart. And yet there was one day where he heard a child, if I can find the text, he heard a child playing with another child saying, take up and read some game they were playing. And Augustine had the scriptures and he took up the scriptures. take up and read. And he took up the Scriptures and he turned to a text. And the text he turned to was Romans 13. As far as spent, the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying, but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lust thereof." And that was the arrow that the Lord was pleased to use at that point in time to bring Augustine to his knees in saving faith. See, so it was but a little child. Who knows? What the Lord may yet have in store for you, even as the Lord blessed Philemon with a new brother in the Lord Onesimus, who knows what Paul might be out there that the Lord may use in His free and sovereign grace to speak to the loved one who has resisted the truth of the gospel that has come from your lips. For Philemon most likely did not know where Onesimus was, but God did. even as He knows where every one of your unsafe family members and friends are, believer, and if it is His good pleasure, He can bring them to saving faith through the witness of someone you do not even know. O Lord, O Lord, use whomever you want to bring those we know to saving faith in Christ. even as you used Paul to bring Onesimus to saving faith in yourself, so that Paul could beseech Philemon for their brother in Christ. I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds. Let us pray.